2004 CHEVROLET EPICA checking oil

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle..............................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specifications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling Your Tank............................................5-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-17
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-19
Engine Coolant.............................................5-19
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-21
Engine Overheating.......................................5-22
Cooling System............................................5-24
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-30
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-31
Brakes........................................................5-32Battery........................................................5-35
Jump Starting...............................................5-36
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-40
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-41
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-41
Headlamps..................................................5-41
Front Turn Signal Lamps...............................5-43
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-44
Parking Lamps.............................................5-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-46
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-47
Tires..............................................................5-48
Inflation - Tire Pressure.................................5-53
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-54
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-55
Buying New Tires.........................................5-56
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-57
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-58
Wheel Replacement......................................5-59
Tire Chains..................................................5-60
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-61
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-62
Spare Tire...................................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from
the container can ignite the gasoline vapor.
You can be badly burned and your vehicle
damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury
to you and others:
Dispense gasoline only into approved
containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the
inside of the ll opening before operating
the nozzle. Contact should be maintained
until the lling is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up
and injure you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts
and start a re. These include liquids like fuel,
oil, coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and
other uids, and plastic or rubber. You or
others could be burned. Be careful not to drop
or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-24.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-30.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. SeeWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 5-31.
D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-13.
E. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-13.
F. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” under
Brakes on page 5-32.
G. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-17.
H. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-35.
I. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. See “Engine
Compartment Fuse Block” underFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-79.Engine Oil
If the oil pressure light
appears on the instrument
cluster, it means you
need to check your engine
oil level right away.
For more information, seeOil Pressure Light on
page 3-42.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
5-13

Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil
must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show the actual level.
Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth,
then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is at or below the lower hole at the tip of
the dipstick (B), then you will need to add at least
one quart of oil. But you must use the right kind.This section explains what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-85.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the upper
hole (A) that shows the proper operating range, your
engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere in
the proper operating range. Push the dipstick all the
way back in when you are through.
What Kind of Engine Oil to Use
Look for two things:
•GM6094M
Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GM
Standard GM6094M. You should look for and use
only an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.
5-14

For protection in extremely cold weather conditions,
use a 40/60 mixture of clean, drinkable water and proper
coolant.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture,
your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be covered by your
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge
tank is located in the
passenger’s side of the
engine compartment.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for more information
on location.
5-20

Check
Engine Light...............................................3-39
Check Engine Light.........................................3-39
Checking Coolant............................................5-20
Checking Engine Oil........................................5-14
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Checking Your Restraint Systems......................1-55
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-75
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-34
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-40
Older Children.............................................1-28
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Top Strap...................................................1-37
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-37
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18Cleaning
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-69
Outside of Your Vehicle................................5-72
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-75
Weatherstrips..............................................5-72
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels..............................5-74
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.......................5-73
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet....................................5-69
Cleaning Glass Surfaces..................................5-71
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components.................5-71
Cleaning Leather............................................5-71
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel...........5-71
Cleaning Tires................................................5-74
Cleaning Vinyl................................................5-70
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades..............5-73
Climate Control System...................................3-18
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-28
Automatic...................................................3-22
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-28
Clock............................................................3-46
Coinholder(s)..................................................2-33
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-39
Heater, Engine............................................2-21
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-21
3